Last Days for Gale Brewery
Fuller’s announces it will close brewery March 31
London brewer Fuller Smith & Turner plans to close the George Gale brewery at the end of March.
Fuller’s bought George Gale’s brewery and pub estate last year for £91m.
Fuller’s said it will close the Gale’s brewery on March 31 and eliminate 21 jobs. Gale’s beers, such as HSB, Butser and Festival Mild, will now be brewed at Fuller’s Chiswick brewery. The Gale’s brewery site will continue to operate as a distribution and warehousing operation.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) condemned Fuller Smith and Turner’s decision as contemptible disregard for over 5,000 people who signed a petition to keep the brewery open and more than 150 years of brewing heritage.
“This is a black day for the people of Wessex who fought so hard only to be let down so badly,” said CAMRA Chief Executive Mike Benner.
“We are appalled at Fullers decision. Thousands of supporters rallied behind the Wessex branches of CAMRA when a Save Gales Campaign was launched following the shock takeover announcement in November. But Fuller’s has simply brushed the overwhelming public concern aside and continued with its own agenda.”
CAMRA campaigns against the consolidation and closure of breweries as it reduces consumer choice, quality and value for money, which is against the interests of all beer drinkers and pub goers.
After the announcement of the takeover was made Wessex CAMRA branches leapt to defend their local brewery by setting up a website and petition that attracted more than 5,000 signatures.
